FATHER AND SON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21168, 28 April 1932, Page 8

FATHER AND SON.

UNIQUE POSITION ON SHIP. CAPTAIN AND CHIEF OFFICER. VISIT OF NORWEGIAN VESSEL. An unusual case of father and son serving as captain and chief officer respectively on the same vessel is found on the new Norwegian motor-ship Ilerborg, which has come to Auckland from San Francisco with a cargo of bulk oil. Captain J. Paulsen is in command of the vessel, and his only son, Paul, is chief officer and wireless operator. In an interview yesterday Captain Paulsen said he had travelled to many ports in the world, but had not encountered a similar position during his long experience. "Our home is at Arendal, in Norway, and I started my career at the time of the old windjammers, on which I got my experience," said Captain Paulsen. In those days there was something in going to sea and encountering storms, but now it is nothing."

Although Captain Paulsen is over 60 he looks ten years younger, and considers that a life spent on the ocean is better than living on land. He was in the insurance business at Arendal for 13 years, after he had been at sea for 26 years, but the call of the sea proved too strong for him and he returned to it. The chief officer, Mr. Paul Paulsen, has spent ten years on steamers in different parts of the world, and about a year ago he joined his father, who was then assisting in the construction of the Herborg. They have been at sea together for only a few months, and both consider the arrangement very satisfactory. "Of course I am very strict with my son," Captain Paulsen explained with a smile. "When he is operating the wireless I sometimes relieve him on his watch."

On board the Herborg, Norwegian is the only language spoken, and the crew of 34 all come from the district around Arendal. Very strict rules are enforced, prohibiting the crew smoking on deck, owing to the danger of fire spreading to the 4,000,000 gallons of oil carried.